A refugee from the newspaper industry, Greg Johnston has been a journalist for more than 30 years, most of them with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, which vanished into the pages of history in March of 2009. He also served for four years as wire editor/reporter at The Daily World in Aberdeen on the Washington Coast, and worked as a news writer and wirephoto operator at the Associated Press Seattle bureau while attending the University of Washington. Greg graduated from the UW's School of Communications in the Rose Bowl victory year of 1978 – Go Dawgs!
He sees in Patch the opportunity to continue doing what he does: real, honest journalism, now on line, at a hyper-local level, in his hometown. Adventure-oriented since a child, Greg loves to hike, backpack, fish, ride his mountain bike, run, kayak, snowboard and take nature photographs.
He lives on Finn Hill with his wife and has three grown children, one a U.S. Army infantryman and Afghanistan War veteran, and two beautiful grandchildren.
<b>Your Beliefs</b>
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.
<b>Politics</b>
How would you describe your political beliefs? Are you registered with a certain party?
I am fiscally conservative and socially liberal. I support a strong military, but believe the answer to conflict is tolerance, understanding, diplomacy and dialogue. I dream of the day Americans can withdraw from foreign conflict and look inward to address issues such as unemployment, homelessness, poverty and environmental protection. I am not a member of any party.
<b>Religion</b>
How religious would you consider yourself?
I was baptized a Christian and would call myself spiritual, but not devout. I find peace in nature, in the Pacific Northwest's mountains, forests, rivers and seas and along its magnificent ocean shoreline.
<b>Local Hot-Button Issues</b>
What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?
Where do you stand on each of these issues?
Kirkland is a relatively affluent, largely suburban bedroom community where quality of life issues are important. The challenge will be maintaining a vibrant downtown and neighborhoods while preserving their small-town charm. I think quality of life should not be sacrificed for economic development; rather, I think maintaining a high quality of life is essential to a strong economy.
A Kirkland Police officer driving by reportedly was first on the scene and evacuated residents from the three-story apartment building. There were no injuries.
Highly regarded Chef Don Curtiss hopes to open his new Kirkland restaurant in the first week of September.
In other cases, a Kingsgate resident loses cameras and a computer in a burglary, a purse is grabbed at a Juanita pub and a suspect is caught on a bus after allegedly stealing three cans of Four Loco.
It took firefighters from Kirkland, Redmond and Bothell about 40 minutes to knock down the fire, which also jumped to a nearby tree and threatened adjacent homes.
It took firefighters from Kirkland, Redmond and Bothell about 40 minutes to knock down the fire, which also jumped to a nearby tree and threatened adjacent homes.
Crowds packed downtown Kirkland for the city's first-ever SummerFest over the weekend.
The Arrowhead community is reaching out to help the wife and two children of David Ulm, who drowned Aug. 1 at Kirkland O.O. Denny Park. Ulm, 54, had attended Sammamish High School.
The Arrowhead community is reaching out to help the wife and two children of David Ulm, who drowned Aug. 1 at Kirkland O.O. Denny Park. Ulm, 54, had attended Sammamish High School.
The Arrowhead community is reaching out to help the wife and two children of David Ulm, who drowned Aug. 1 at Kirkland O.O. Denny Park.
The 42-year-old Kirkland woman was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide after the Tuesday night collision. She lives on Finn Hill, apparently not far from the 81-year-old woman killed in the crash.
The 42-year-old Kirkland woman was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide after the Tuesday night collision on Juanita Drive that injured a Bellevue man and killed his 81-year-old sister.
Forty-two-year-old Kelly Ann Hudson of Kirkland is charged with vehicular homicide and vehicular assault and faces tougher penalties under new state laws if convicted.
Working for the national service program, Marker helped Kirkland "create infrastructure for emergency preparedness."
The public is invited to the gathering Saturday at the Gurudwara Singh Sabha of Washington.
A southbound driver suspected of DUI crossed the centerline Tuesday night and crashed into another vehicle coming the other way with four people inside.
A southbound driver suspected of DUI crossed the centerline Tuesday night and crashed into another vehicle coming the other way with four people inside, killing one and sending the other three to the hospital.
The driver who police say was at fault and appeared intoxicated after the head-on collision has been identified as 41-year-old Kelly Hudson.
The city council also approved zoning changes that liberalize residential rules for keeping chickens.
The driver who police say was at fault and appeared intoxicated after the head-on collision has been identified as 41-year-old Kelly Hudson.
A southbound driver suspected of DUI crossed the centerline Tuesday night and crashed into another vehicle coming the other way with four people inside.